Keyboard support apparatus

ABSTRACT

A keyboard support apparatus includes a first bracket and a second bracket interconnected by first, second and third elongate members. The first and second elongate members are pivotally attached by a first pivot pin to the first bracket. The first elongate member is also pivotally attached by a second pivot pin to the second bracket. The third elongate member is pivotally attached by a third pivot pin to the first bracket, while the second and third elongate members cooperate with a further pivot pin on the second bracket to releasably engage the second and third elongate members. The first and second brackets are connected to a supporting surface and a keyboard, respectively, and the elongate members are movable in substantially the same plane when released from the second bracket.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a support apparatus suitable, but notexclusively, for supporting an electronic keyboard from a desk.

BACKGROUND ART

Electronic keyboards are commonly used on desks in offices and it isdesirable to present the keyboard to the operator at a convenientposition and orientation. Owing to the wide range in the requirements ofkeyboard operators it is known to provide versatile keyboard supportswhich may be adjusted to present the keyboard in a convenient positionand orientation. Such keyboard supports suffer from the drawback thatthey are cumbersome and difficult to adjust. In particular it is aproblem that after the keyboard has been moved from its workingposition, in order for the desk to be used for another purpose, alengthy adjustment procedure is necessary before the keyboard can bereturned to the optimum working position.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a keyboard supportapparatus comprising:

a first bracket and a second bracket interconnected by first, second andthird elongate members; said first and second elongate members arepivotally attached by means of a first pivot pin to said first bracket;said first elongate member is also pivotally attached by means of asecond pivot pin to said second bracket; said third elongate member ispivotally attached by means of a third pivot pin to said first bracket;said second and third elongate members are adapted to co-operate with afourth pivot pin associated with said second bracket, and said fourthpivot pin is adapted to releasably engage said second and third elongatemembers; the arrangement being such that, in use, one of the first andsecond brackets is connected to a supporting surface and the other to akeyboard and the elongate members, when released from engagement withthe second bracket, are moveable substantially in the same plane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment will now be described by way of example only withreference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of keyboard support apparatus embodyingthe invention;

FIG. 2 shows a detail of part of the keyboard support apparatus shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the keyboard support apparatus shown in FIG.1 at one extreme of its travel; and

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the keyboard support apparatus shown in FIG.1 at the other extreme of its travel.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, keyboard attaching bracket 22 to which akeyboard or shelf may be bolted is connected to keyboard mounting blockattaching bracket 23 by means of two parallel elongate members 24 and25. Elongate member 24 is attached to bracket 23 by means of pivot pin27, and attached to bracket 22 by means of pivot pin 26. Elongate member25 is attached to bracket 23 by means of pivot Pin 28, and is attachedto bracket 22 by means of pivot pin 29 which resides in longitudinalslot 30 of elongate member 25.

A third elongate member 31 interconnects brackets 22 and 23. Elongatemember 31 is attached to bracket 23 by means of pivot pin 27 and isattached to bracket 22 by means of pivot pin 29 which engages inlongitudinal slot 32 of member 31.

Bracket 22 is connected at one side of the underside of a keyboard, andbracket 23 is connected at one side of the underside of a keyboardmounting body, such as a desk (not shown) This connection may be made,for instance, by bolts which pass through holes in the overhang 35 ofbracket 25 and through holes or slots (not shown) of the mounting body).Further brackets 33 and 34 are connected to the other sides of thekeyboard and mounting body in order to prevent rotation of the keyboardwith respect to the mounting body. Brackets 33 and 34 are interconnectedby a further elongate member 35 which is pivotally attached at eitherend by means of pivot pins 36 and 37 respectively. An alternativearrangement would be to connect brackets 22 and 23 at the centres of thekeyboard and keyboard mounting body, in which case brackets 33 and 34could be dispensed with.

A cross member 38 provides the final degree of stability to thestructure.

A comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4 will indicate that only a limited amountof pivotal movement is possible by elongate members 24 and 25 aroundpivot pins 27 and 28. The precise amount of movement permitted isdetermined by the length of the slot 30. In FIG. 4 it can be seen thatbracket 22 may be tilted in a clockwise direction about pivot 26 anamount determined by the length of either slot 30 or slot 32.

It should be appreciated that rotation is possible by any desired amountbetween the two extreme positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively.Also, at any intermediate position between the two extremes shown somedegree of tilt is possible.

Pivot pin 29 is essentially a threaded bolt, that is at least some partof the pin which extends beyond the surface of elongate member 25 isthreaded. A nut, preferably turnable by hand, may be tightened orloosened on the threaded portion of pivot pin 29 in order to clamp orrelease elongate members 25 and 31, and bracket 22. This is illustratedin greater detail in FIG. 2. It is an advantage of this arrangement thatthe structure may be adjusted to desired angle and tilt with one hand.

To facilitate operation and to counteract the weight of the keyboard aspring 39 may be provided connecting the elongate member 25 and bracket22. Spring 39 comes under greater tension when bracket 22 is moveddownwards with respect to bracket 23, i.e., when the arms of the springare compressed together. This has the effect of returning the desktop tothe horizontal.

A further spring 40, for instance a coil spring, may connect an overhang35 of bracket 23 to elongate member 25. This spring also comes undergreater tension when bracket 22 is moved downwards with respect tobracket 23. The action of the spring therefore serves to return bracket22 and therefore the keyboard, to its highest position.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a specificexample, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that theinvention may be embodied in many other forms. For instance, theinvention has been described with reference to structures suitable forright-hand operation when mounted under the operator's desk, but itshould be clear that left-handed operation is equally possible and maybe facilited by mirror image construction. It is also feasilbe thatdual-controls may be provided on either side of the structure, both oreither of which may be used to control the movements. It should also beappreciated that the shapes of all the brackets and bodies need not belimited to those shown. Also the elongate members and rods need not havethe cross section shown.

I claim:
 1. A keyboard support apparatus comprising:a first bracket anda second bracket interconnected by first, second and third elongatemembers; said first and second elongate members being pivotally attachedby means of a first pivot pin to said first bracket; said first elongatemember being also pivotally attached by means of a second pivot pin tosaid second bracket; said third elongate member being pivotally attachedby means of a third pivot pin to said first bracket; said second andthird elongate members being pivotally attached with a fourth pivot pindisposed on said second bracket, and said fourth pivot pin beingarranged so as move relative to at least one of said second and thirdelongate members along an axially directed rectilinear path defined bysaid at least one of said members and to releasably clamp said secondand third elongate members in a preselected position; the arrangementbeing such that, in use, one of the first and second brackets isconnected to a supporting surface and the other to a keyboard, and theelongate members, when released from engagement with the second bracket,are movable substantially in the same plane.
 2. A keyboard supportapparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein:
 3. A keyboard support apparatusas claimed in claim 1 in which a first spring interconnects said thirdelongate member and said second bracket such that the first spring comesunder greater tension when the second bracket is moved downwards withrespect to the first bracket.
 4. A keyboard support apparatus as claimedin claim 3 in which a second spring interconnects an overhang of thefirst bracket and the third elongate member such that the second springcomes under greater tension when the second bracket is moved downwardwith respect to the first bracket.
 5. A keyboard support apparatus asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the fourth pivot pin is threaded toadjustably cooperate with a manually operable nut to releasably clampthe second and third elongate members.